Machine for striking floor coverings

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a machine for striking floor coverings constituted by a chassis comprising two lateral stringers, a bridge disposed transversely to said chassis, means for abutment on the floor fixed to said lateral stringers, these means enabling the said floor to be struck and said chassis to be rendered horizontally movable, of at least one electromagnet composed of coils and moving elements, said coils being fixed to said chassis and said moving elements being integral with said bridge on whose ends two hammers are disposed, which strike vertically and periodically each of said stringers and at least two helical springs disposed between said chassis and said bridge in order to return said latter to its original position.

United States Patent 1 Gelin et al.

[54] MACHINE FOR STRIKING FLOOR COVERINGS [76] Inventors: Lysiane G. Gelin, 31 Avenue Kennedy; Sylvette M. Garrigue, 20 Rue L. Blane, both of Narbonne, France 111 3,734,203 [451 May 22, 1973 Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser AttorneyLorimer P. Brooks et al.

[57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a machine for striking floor coverings constituted by a chassis comprising two lateral stringers, a bridge disposed transversely to said chassis, means for abutment on the floor fixed to said lateral stringers, these means enabling the said floor to be struck and said chassis to be rendered horizontally movable, of at least one electromagnet composed of coils and moving elements, said coils being fixed to said chassis and said moving elements being integral with said bridge on whose ends two hammers are disposed, which strike vertically and periodically each of said stringers and at least two helical springs disposed between said chassis and said bridge in order to return said latter to its original position.

PATENTEDHAYZZW 734,203

SHEET 2 BF 2 llllilllill MACHINE FOR STRIKING FLOOR COVERINGS The present invention relates to a machine for striking floor coverings constituted of geometrical figures, in order to improve their planimetry and adherence, having, mounted to be integral on a chassis whose dimensions are clearly greater than those of said geometrical figures, a base composed of striking elements that may render the chassis horizontally movable over the floor.

In order that the floors be flat and that the geometrical figures placed adhere well, the tile-layer has hitherto placed the elements one by one on a base of mortar for example, before striking them individually with a hammer. This result, which of course depends on the skill of the workman, is difficult, long and onerous to obtain, whatever the type of material used, for example geometrical elements made of sandstone or marble agglomerates, or plastics material, mortar or glue effecting the adherence.

Machines are known which are intended for mechanizing this work and which are constituted of a chassis whose dimensions are clearly greater than those of the figures to be placed in position, on which is fixed a base, provided with striking elements, for example rollers, balls, juxtaposed rubbered rollers. A motor fixed to the chassis rotates a member which transmits a periodic movement of percussion to the base.

This type of machine has not given complete satisfaction, as, on the one hand, due to its construction, the whole vibrates, and, on the other hand, the rotation of the member mentioned produces percussion in all directions. Thus, a large part of the energy is dissipated without being deliberately used during vibrations in all directions which are not vertical with respect to the work. The flatness is therefore not satisfactory since the shocks which are not produced with a constant force drive the geometric figures more or less into the mortar or glue base depending on the nature of the material of said figures.

The machine according to the invention enables these disadvantages to be obviated.

To this end, a machine is proposed for striking floor coverings constituted of elements forming geometrical figures, in order to improve their flatness and adher ence, said machine having, mounted integral on a chassis whose dimensions are clearly greater than those of said geometric figures, a base composed of striking elements which are also capable of rendering said chassis horizontally movable over the floor, characterized in that it comprises, fixed to said chassis, a device comprising at least one hammer drawn by an electromagnet and returned to its original position by at least one spring, said hammer periodically vertically striking an element integral with said chassis.

The machine according to the invention enables a large number of geometric figures to be positioned simultaneously and rapidly in order to produce a homogeneous work by applying to said figures a constant and. solely vertical force of percussion. The floor obtained will be perfectly flat and the figures will have a good adherence whatever the material used, cement mortar or glue.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the machine comprises a bridge, fixed elastically to the chassis, whose ends, arranged in the form of hammers, come opposite at least a part of the periphery of the chassis, means being arranged to resist the elastic forces and periodically and vertically strike the hammer on an element integral with the chassis. Said means are constituted by an electro-magnet whose coils are fixed to the chassis and the moving elements integral with said bridge. The distance between the hammers and the chassis and the air gap may be adjusted so that the electro-magnet can be used according to its power curve at its maximum and constant force for a determined air-gap.

According to another embodiment, the devices comprise for example one or more electro-magnets disposed on the chassis, the coils being fixed to said chassis and the movable elements striking the cores of said coils. In this device, the role of the bridge in the form of hammers of the first example cited, is played by the moving elements of the electro-magnets, each of said moving elements constituting a hammer.

The invention will be more readily understood upon reading the description given hereinafter by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view through a machine for striking floor coverings.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of said machine.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a machine which is placed on the ground 1 on which geometrical FIGS. 2, for example sandstone tiles, have been regularly distributed. The machine is constituted by a chassis 3, whose dimensions are larger than a tile 2 and which has for example angle bars 4 on two of its lateral sides and protruding at the lower part of the chassis. On these angle bars 4, a series of rollers 5 are mounted to rotate in a position parallel to one another, said rollers comprising a coating 6 of hard synthetic material. These rollers thus permit the machine to move easily on the tiles 2 by means of the base composed of the striking elements 5 which could also be wheels of the rollers or the juxtaposed balls.

A bridge 7 constituted by a central body 8 and two lateral ends 9 and 10 is mounted to be integral with the chassis 3 by means of the rods 11 fixed by one of their ends to the chassis 3 and rendered integral with the bridge but nuts 13. These rods have moreover seats 12 and 14 between which are compressed elastic means, for example constituted of a helical spring 15. At their upper part, the rods 11 slide in a sleeve 16 so as to allow the elastic means to play freely when the bridge moves towards the framework.

The ends 9 and 10 of the bridge 7 are arranged in the form of hammers l7 and are placed opposite one another on the periphery of the chassis so that the elements 17 strike the elements 18 integral with said chas- SIS.

The means for resisting the elastic force of the spring 15 and periodically striking the hammers 17 on the elements 18 of the chassis are for example constituted by an electro-magnet 19 whose coils are fixed at 20 to the chassis 3, and the moving elements of which are in the form of a prallelepipedic unit constituted by a plurality of metallic plates. A casing 23 envelops the bridge 7, the electro-magnet 19 and their accessories. Between the AC. supply and the electro-magnet, it is preferable to intercalate a selector 22 which feeds the coils with a current selected over part of a cycle, every N cycles, N being variable as desired. The part of cycle selected is such that the current does not reverse, thus the shock is produced consecutively to the attraction of the moving elements, the bridge being elastically. returned when the current ceases. In practice, the value of N may be of the order of three, four or five, this corresponding to seventeen, twelve or ten strikes per second, the value of which is independent of the force of percussion.

In fact, the electro-magnet is 'used according to its power curve, for a value of its air gap giving a maximum force which will be constant if the distance of said air gap is adjusted once and for all. This force will of course be chosen to be higher than the resistant force of the elastic means during the feed of the coil when the bridge moves towards the chassis. The distance of the air gap may be adjusted by means of ferromagnetic members 22 fixed by 20 between the coils and the frame, according to the power curve of the electromagnet used.

The distance between the hammers 17 and the elements 18 of the frame 3 is also adjustable and will be fixed to be smaller or greater than that of the air gap by the nuts 13. Thanks to these two forms of adjustment, the shocks may be produced either by the action of the elements 17 on the elements 18, or by the action of the moving elements 21 on the cores 19a of the electromagnet 19.

By way of example, for an electromagnet producing a force of twenty kilos for an air gap in rest position of 5.5mm; the distance between the hammers will be adjusted to be between 4 and 4.7mm. The average penetration of the geometric figures in the adherence material will be of the order of mm.

A machine for striking floor covering is thus obtained which is simple, robust and manageable, adapted to the covering used and with a high yield which, in the exampie described, is of the order of sq. m. per hour.

What is claimed is: 1. Machine for striking floor coverings constituted by elements forming geometrical figures, for improving their planimetry and adherence, composed of a chassis whose dimensions are clearly larger than those of said geometrical figures, which chassis comprises two lateral stringers, a bridge disposed transversely to said chassis having the general form of a reversed V, means for abutment on the floor fixed to said lateral stringers, these means enabling said coverings to be struck and the said chassis to be rendered horizontally movable over the floor, of at least one electro-magnet composed of coils and moving elements, said coils being fixed to said chassis, and said moving elements being integral with said bridge on whose ends two hammers are disposed, which strike vertically and periodically each of said stringers and of at least two helical springs disposed between said chassis and said bridge in order to return this latter to its original position.

2. Machine as defined in claim 1, comprising means for adjusting the distance between said hammers and said stringers of the chassis.

3. Machine as defined in claim 1 comprising means for adjusting the air gap of said electro-manget.

4. Machine as defined in claim 1, in which said electro-magnet is controlled by current pulses separated by intervals of time whose duration is greater than that of said pulses.

5. Machine as defined in claim 4, in which said current pulses are obtained by means enabling an AC. current to be rectified and certain half-waves thereof to be eliminated and thus vary the number of half-waves eliminated so that the rate of striking is varied. 

1. Machine for striking floor coverings constituted by elements forming geometrical figures, for improving their planimetry and adherence, composed of a chassis whose dimensions are clearly larger than those of said geometrical figures, which chassis comprises two lateral stringers, a bridge disposed transversely to said chassis having the general form of a reversed V, means for abutment on the floor fixed to said lateral stringers, these means enabling said coverings to be struck and the said chassis to be rendered horizontally movable over the floor, of at least one electro-magnet composed of coils and moving elements, said coils being fixed to said chassis, and said moving elements being integral with said bridge on whose ends two hammers are disposed, which strike vertically and periodically each of said stringers and of at least two helical springs disposed between said chassis and said bridge in order to return this latter to its original position.
 2. Machine as defined in claim 1, comprising means for adjusting the distance between said hammers and said stringers of the chassis.
 3. Machine as defined in claim 1 comprising means for adjusting the air gap of said electro-manget.
 4. Machine as defined in claim 1, in which said electro-magnet is controlled by current pulses separated by intervals of time whose duration is greater than that of said pulses.
 5. Machine as defined in claim 4, in which said current pulses are obtained by means enabling an A.C. current to be rectified and certain half-waves thereof to be eliminated and thus vary the number of half-waves eliminated so that the rate of striking is varied. 